Meitei literature

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Meitei literature

(Manipuri literature)

Meitei: Meitei Khorirol

Old Manipuri: Meitei Loinasinlol

British English: Meit(h)ei literature [lower-alpha 1]
The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg
The Numit Kappa, a Classical Meitei epic text written during the 1st century, based on ancient Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism)
Stylistic origins Meitei culture
Cultural origins Meitei culture
Subgenres
Related topics
Puya (Meitei texts)

Puya Meithaba (Libricide of the PuYas)
Meitei language movements
Meitei linguistic purism movement

Contents

Meitei classical language movement
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Meitei people
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History
Culture
People
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Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the Luwang Nonghumsang, later known as the Pandit Loishang, collected sources of indigenous Meitei knowledge and philosophy until the 18th century. [2] Writing by Meiteis is assumed to go back to the Kingdom of Kangleipak in the early 12th century. [3] The Meitei script is a Brahmic abugida. It is known only from the Puya manuscripts discovered in the first half of the 20th century. Manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries were written using the Bengali alphabet. The existence of the Meitei script in the 15th-century hinges on the authenticity of an inscription dated to the reign of Senbi Kiyamba. [4] The first printed Manipuri book, Manipurer Itihas, appeared in 1890 from the Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta. Though the kings of Manipur had established contact with the British from the middle of the eighteenth century onward the real impact of the contact came much later. Johnstone Middle English School, based on the western system of education, was started in 1885 at Imphal, and in 1891 Manipur lost its independence to the British. British domination facilitated the introduction of new systems in the civil, political and educational spheres, which hastened the process of modernization in Manipur, exposed as it was to new ideas and influences. [5]

Ancient Meitei literature

Chada Laihui

The Chada Laihui (Meitei : ꯆꯥꯗꯥ ꯂꯥꯢꯍꯨꯢ) is a historical document (puya), about the genealogy of the Meitei kings from their mothers' sides. [6] [7] It traces the genealogical account of the kings' mothers' lineage. [6] [7] [8] [9] It is a supplementary document to the Cheitharol Kumbaba, the foremost royal chronicle of Manipur. [6]

Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba

"Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba" (Meitei : ꯃꯣꯢꯔꯥꯡ ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯔꯣꯜ ꯂꯝꯕꯨꯕ) is a historical document (puya), which served as the court chronicle of the rulers of the kingdom in Ancient Moirang. It records the genealogy of the kings of the Moirang dynasty. [10] [11] [12]

The chronicle also slightly mentioned about the history of the Zeliangrong people. [13]

Medieval Meitei literature

Modern Meitei literature

Puyas

Puyas [14] are Meitei manuscripts written in Meitei script. They encompass a wide variety of topics such as religion, mythology, chronicle, folk medicine of Meitei people, history etc. [15] Archaic Meitei script which consist of 18 alphabets is derived from Wakoklon Puya [16] [17] [18] Puya manuscripts have been discovered by scholars, beginning in the 1930s. [19] [20] The chronicles of puya state that Hindus arrived from the Indian subcontinent with royal marriages by the 14th century, from what are now modern Assam, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Dravidian kingdoms, and other regions. [20] Another manuscript suggests that Muslims arrived in Manipur in the 17th century, from what is now Bangladesh, during the reign of king Khagemba. [20] Meitei literature[ clarification needed ] documents the persistent and devastating Manipur–Burma wars. [21]

Lists of Puya

Suppression of Meitei Literature

Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) believed to have been ordered by king Pamheiba (Garib Niwaj) Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) ordered by Meitei King Pamheiba (AKA Garib Niwaj or Gopal Singh) under the influence of Bengali Hindu missionary Shantidas Gosai (AKA Shantidas Goswami or Shantidas Adhikari).jpg
Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) believed to have been ordered by king Pamheiba (Garib Niwaj)

After the adoption of Hinduism as state religion under Gharib Nawaz (Meitei : Pamheiba ) (1717), it appears that the Puyas were "burnt completely" at Kangla Uttra under royal orders, in either 1729 [25] or in 1732. [26]

The Puya manuscripts discovered in the 20th century at best have a tenuous connection with the texts burned under Gharib Nawaz. [26] Like the Hindu and Jain Puranas, the extant Puyas contain cosmology, genealogies of gods and goddesses, and royal chronicles. [26]

Epics

KHAMBA THOIBI EPIC - THE CAPTURE OF THE WILD BULL.jpg
The Capture of the wild Kao (bull) by Khamba
KHAMBA THOIBI EPIC - THE DANCE BEFORE THE KING.jpg
The Dance before the King by Khamba and princess Thoibi
KHAMBA THOIBI EPIC - THE TORTURE BY THE ELEPHANT.jpg
The Torture of Khamba by the Elephant
The classical Meitei epic of "Khamba and Thoibi" - The tiger hunt.jpg
The Tiger Hunt by Khamba and his rival Nongban Kongyamba
Scenes from the Khamba Thoibi epic legend

The Numit Kappa ("Shooting the Sun") is a mythological text in narrative verse. It was published in English translation by T.C. Hodson (1908). [27] A translation into modern Meitei was published in 1908. [28]

Ougri (also known as Leiroi Ngongloi Eshei) is a poem written in archaic Meitei. [29]

The sagas of the seven epic cycles of incarnations of the two divine lovers were originated from Moirang kingdom near the shores of the Loktak lake in Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). Among them, Khamba Thoibi is regarded as the last and the greatest epic. [30]

Chronicles

The Ningthourol Shingkak is a work written under Gharib Nawaz (Meitei : Pamheiba), written in the mode of "predictions" made during the rule of Khagemba (r. 1597–1652) and thus foretelling the birth and reign of Gharib Nawaz and his religious reforms. The Cheitharol Kumbaba or "Royal Chronicle" is a text written down in the early 19th century, under Jai Singh, the puppet king installed after the Burmese invasion, purportedly based on an older copy which was no longer available. It contains day-to-day transactions and occurrences the state. [31]

Scriptures

Meitei scriptures
The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg
Laihui  [ simple ]
Nongkalols  [ simple ]

The Meitei scriptures are texts regarding the Meitei religion (Sanamahism) as well as Meitei mythology. They are the sacred literature to the followers of the Meitei religion. [32] Some of the puyas are regarded as scriptures, but not all of them. [33]

Literary awards

Sahitya Akademi awards

Patriotic Writers' Forum awards

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Most British scholars including Thomas Callan Hodson use the term "Meit(h)ei" instead of "Meitei". [1]

Related Research Articles

Indian epic poetry is the epic poetry written in the Indian subcontinent, traditionally called Kavya. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which were originally composed in Sanskrit and later translated into many other Indian languages, and the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature and Sangam literature are some of the oldest surviving epic poems ever written.

Indian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India has 22 officially recognised languages. Sahitya Akademi, India's highest literary body, also has 24 recognised literary languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

Meitei, officially known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur, as well as one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic, included in the 8th Schedule to the Indian Constitution. It is one of the advanced literary languages, recognised by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. It serves as one of the recognised educational and literary languages in Assam and Tripura. Native to the Meitei people, it has around 3 million total speakers, and is used as L1 by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, and as L2 by different ethnic groups, in different parts of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It was used as a court language in the historic Manipur Kingdom, in accordance to the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, Meetei people, or Manipuri people is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the valley areas in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei script</span> Writing system used to write Meitei language

The Meitei script, also known as the Meetei script, is an abugida used for the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur state and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. It is also popularly known as the Kanglei script and the Kok Sam Lai script. Its earliest known evidence of existence dates back to the 6th century AD coins, engraving the Meitei letters, as verified by the various publications of the National Sahitya Akademi. It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali alphabet. A few manuscripts survive. In the 20th century, the script has experienced a resurgence, and is again being used. Starting from 2021, Meitei script was officially used by the Government of Manipur, along with the Bengali-Assamese script, to write the Meitei language, as per "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classical Languages of India</span> Classical languages of the Indian Republic

The Indian classical languages, or the Shastriya Bhasha, is an umbrella term for the languages of India having high antiquity, and valuable, original and distinct literary heritage. The Republic of India officially recognises six languages as the Classical languages of India. In 2004, the Government of India declared that languages that met certain strict criteria could be accorded the status of a "Classical Language" of India. It was instituted by the Ministry of Culture along with the Linguistic Experts' Committee. The committee was constituted by the Government of India to consider demands for categorization of languages as Classical Languages.

Cheitharol Kumbaba, or Cheithalon Kumpapa (Ch.K.), the "Royal Chronicle of Manipur" is a court chronicle of the kings of Manipur, which claims to start from 33 CE and to cover the rule of 76 Kings until 1955. The work of chronicling actually began during the reign of King Kiyamba in 1485 CE. The earlier events were reconstructed later during the reign of Bhagyachandra, presumably from oral sources or from scattered written records. According to scholar Saroj Nalini Parratt, the earlier parts have relatively little detail but contain numerous inaccuracies. But they are still said to be useful in reconstructing Manipur's early history.

Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh was an Indian writer, lexicographer and historian, known as the author of Manipuri to Manipuri and English, the first modern general dictionary in Meitei language, which was published in 1964. He was a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nongshāba</span> Ancient Meitei Lion God of Manipur

Nongshaba, also spelled as Nongsaba, is a Lion God in Meitei religion (Sanamahism) and mythology. He is also regarded as a king of the gods. He is credited with producing light in the primordial universe and is regarded as the maker of the sun. He is worshipped by the people of both the Ningthouja clans as well as the Moirang clans. God Nongshaba was worshipped by the people of Moirang clan as a lineage deity and regarded as the father of God Thangching (Thangjing). He is the greatest of the Umang Lais in Ancient Kangleipak but he made his only son Thangching (Thangjing) the chief deity of Moirang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loiyumba</span> First Meitei monarch who adopted a written constitution

King Loiyumba, also known as Meidingu Loiyumpa, was a Meitei monarch and a ruler of Kangleipak kingdom. He was the first king to order a written constitution in the 11-12th century CE which is known as the Loiyumpa Silyel .

Puya Meithaba, or Lairik Meithaba, refers to the annual commemoration of a legendary 18th-century scripture burning in post-colonial Manipur, or to the original libricide of Puya itself. There is no historical evidence that the libricide was planned, much less that it did happen. Nonetheless, the commemoration, organised by the Meitei National Front and others since 1979, has been a critical tool in the spread of Meitei nationalism and has mainstreamed a particular reconstruction of premodern Manipur, which has come to be uncritically reproduced even in academic publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Kangleipak</span> Early Meitei civilization

Ancient Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, concentrated along the central plains of the modern day Kangleipak (Manipur), India. The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of this realm from the 15th century BCE, up to the medieval times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei mythology</span> Myths of the Ancient Meiteis

Meitei mythology or Manipuri mythology is a collection of myths, belonging to the religious and cultural traditions of the Meitei people, the predominant ethnic group of Manipur. It is associated with traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism). Meitei myths are a part of Meitei culture and explain various natural phenomena, how the human civilization developed, and the reasons of many things happening. Most of the Meitei legends are found in the Meitei language texts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu</span> Ancient Meitei legend

The ancient legend of Khuyol Haoba and Yaithing Konu is one of the epic cycles of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore, that is originated from Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the fateful love of Khuyol Haoba, an orphan man, for the beautiful Yaithing Konu. Khuyol Haoba was the son of late Khundouremba, a court official of Moirang. Yaithing Konu was the daughter of Luwang Huiningsumba, an influential nobleman of Moirang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu</span> Old Meitei historical tale of Moirang kingdom

The ancient legend of Ura Naha Khongjomba and Pidonnu is an epic cycle of incarnations of Meitei mythology and folklore from the Moirang kingdom of Ancient Kangleipak. It concerns the love and adventures of the forgotten prince Ura Naha Khongjomba for the beautiful woman Pidonnu.

Meidingu Naokhamba was a ruler of Ancient Manipur. He is the successor of Kaokhangba and the predecessor of Naophangba. During his reign, Manipuri traders reached out on horseback to upper Burma and China. Besides the Cheitharol Kumbaba and the Ningthourol Lambuba, he is also mentioned in the Chengleiron. Naokhamba abducted the wife of King Thangyi Khongjromba of the Chenglei tribe when she was heavily pregnant. Later, she had a son named "Naophang Ahanba". During his reign, Chingjen Naran Panggalba, the king of the Chengleis left Kangleipak for westward lands.

Khui Ningomba was a ruler of Ancient Manipur. He was the successor of Emperor Taothingmang.

<i>Loiyumpa Silyel</i> Ancient Meitei Constitution

The Loiyumpa Silyel, also termed as the Loyumpa Silyel or the Loiyumpa Shilyel or the Loyumpa Shilyel or the Loyamba Sinyen, is an 11th-12th century ancient Meitei language written constitution, regulated in the Ancient Kangleipak during the rule of King Loiyumba. In 1110 CE, its format was finalised from a promulgation of the proto-constitution, drafted in 429 CE by King Naophangba. Historically, it is the first written constitution, and one of the well recorded Ancient Meitei language texts of the kingdom. Its Constitutionalism was replaced by the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947, that was functional until Manipur was merged into Republic of India on October 15, 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Meitei literature</span> Ancient Meitei language literature

Ancient Meitei literature, also termed as Old Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Ancient Meitei language from the earliest texts until the time of King Pamheiba of Kangleipak. All the ancient Meitei literary works are written in the traditional Meitei script. The ancient Meitei language texts, written in Meitei script, are conventionally termed as "the Puyas".

References

  1. ↑ Folk-Lore/Volume 23/Meithei Literature
  2. ↑ "Akademi | Hasta in Manipuri – Part 1". Akademi. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Naorem Sanajaoba, Manipur Treaties and Documents-Vol I,1993, New Delhi. Book I: "Twelfth Century Meetei Constitution To Pemberton Report".
  4. ↑ According to K.B. Singh, The Meiteis of Manipur (1989 [1962]), p. 157, an archaic form of the script had developed by the 11th century, and it was in use until the early 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali script. By contrast, O.Tomba, The Need to rewrite Manipuri History, Imphal, 1993, claims that the script is a development of c. 1930, with all supposedly older documents being deliberate forgeries (Frans Welman, Out of Isolation – Exploring a Forgotten World (2011), 468f.)
  5. ↑ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN   978-81-7201-324-0.
  6. 1 2 3 Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN   978-81-260-1803-1.
  7. 1 2 International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics: IJDL. Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala. 2011.
  8. ↑ Commission, Indian Historical Records (1973). Proceedings of the Session. Superintendent Government Printing, India.
  9. ↑ Documents of Anglo-Manipur War, 1891. N. Debendra Singh. 1991.
  10. ↑ Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. 1984.
  11. ↑ Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. 1997. ISBN   9788126003655.
  12. ↑ "Moirang Ningthourol Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing Part 6". e-pao.net. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Kabui, Gangmumei (2004). The History of the Zeliangrong Nagas: From Makhel to Rani Gaidinliu. Spectrum Publications. ISBN   978-81-87502-76-0.
  14. ↑ Gavelli, Francesco; Patrucco, Filippo (2019). "Could the glycemic gap fill the unfilled gaps?". Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 23 (1): 171. doi: 10.4103/ijem.ijem_617_18 . ISSN   2230-8210. PMC   6446665 . PMID   31016176.
  15. ↑ Kshetrimayum, Ibohal (2013). "Father, What Have You Done!". Indian Literature. 57 (1 (273)): 106–109. ISSN   0019-5804. JSTOR   43856715.
  16. ↑ Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (16 October 2015). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-317-27066-9.pp-222-223
  17. ↑ Sohini Ray (2009). "Writing the Body: Cosmology, Orthography, and Fragments of Modernity in Northeastern India". Anthropological Quarterly. 82 (1): 129–154. doi:10.1353/anq.0.0047. ISSN   1534-1518. S2CID   140755509.
  18. ↑ Devi, Nunglekpam Premi (25 May 2018). Short Essays on Women and Society: Manipuri Women through the Century. FSP Media Publications.
  19. ↑ FS Downs (1979). Indian Church History Review: Missionaries and Manuscripts. Vol. 13. Church History Association. pp. 159–163, 167–168.
  20. 1 2 3 Naorem Sanajaoba (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. pp. 12–14. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  21. ↑ Naorem Sanajaoba (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. pp. 3–6, 11–12, 15–18. ISBN   978-81-7099-853-2.
  22. ↑ Devi, Khwairakpam Renuka (2012). "Mapping Histories Through Geographical Context: An Overview of the Written Records". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73: 1425. ISSN   2249-1937. JSTOR   44156348.
  23. ↑ Singh, W. Jyotirmoy (2016). "Elephant in the History of Manipur (1467 A.d. – 1800 A.d.)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 77: 290–297. ISSN   2249-1937. JSTOR   26552654.
  24. ↑ Yumnam, Rosy (31 December 2020). "Retelling the History of Manipur through the Narratives of the Puyas History". Journal of History and Social Sciences. 11 (2). doi: 10.46422/jhss.v11i2.114 . S2CID   234479978.
  25. ↑ Singha, Komol (2012). "Nexus between Conflict and Development in India: A Case of Manipur" (PDF). International Journal of Humanities and Applied Sciences. 1 (5): 142–143. Retrieved 18 June 2015. Further, as an effort to popularise Hinduism and to make it as a state religion, on a full moon day of October (Wakching in Meitei), in 1729 AD, he collected all the Holy books (Puya) related to Sanna-Mahi religion and burnt them completely, devastated the ancient Meitei scriptures and cultural history.
  26. 1 2 3 Soibam Birajit (2014). Meeyamgi Kholao: Sprout of Consciousness. ARECOM Publishers. pp. 120–121. GGKEY:3Z4QYHH8K7K.
  27. ↑ T.C. Hodson, The Meitheis, 1908, London. Appendix II, page 180.
  28. ↑ Chanam Hemchandra, Numit Kappa, translated and rendered into modern Meeteilon, 2008, Imphal, Manipur.
  29. ↑ Ningthoujongjam Khelchandra, History of Ancient Manipuri Literature, Pub-Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 1969.
  30. ↑ Oinam, Bhagat; Sadokpam, Dhiren A. (11 May 2018). Northeast India: A Reader. Taylor & Francis. pp. 236, 237. ISBN   978-0-429-95320-0. The epics of the seven incarnations Apart from several other works based on the theme of love, mention may be made of the literature coming from the Moirang region of Manipur. A civilization situated on the magnificent Loktak Lake, the culture of the Moirang clan has been noted. Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or ages. The seven cycles are Akongjamba (hero) and Phouoibi (heroine): Henjunaha (hero) and Leima Lairuklembi (heroine); Khuyol Haoba (hero) and Yaithing Konu (heroine); Kadeng Thangjahanba (hero) and Tonu Laijinglembi (heroine); Ura Naha Khongjomba (hero) and Pidonnu (heroine); Wanglen Pungdingheiba (hero) and Sappa Chanu Silheibi (heroine); Khamba (hero) and Thoibi (heroine).
  31. ↑ "The manuscripts collected by W. Yumjao Singh consist of literary, historical, astronomical, astrological and miscellaneous other works of which mention may be made of Cheitharon Kumbaba, the Ningthourol Shingkak, the Poireiton Khunthokpa, Dharani Samhita, Srimat Bhagabat. The Cheitharol Kumbaba or the royal chronicle has been the most valuable for historical investigations, as it professes to record all the important daily transactions and occurrences of the State.... By orders of Jai Singh this book was rewritten as the former copy was no more available then". "The Nigthourol Shingkak is a work written in the way of prediction. It professes to predict all important events that would happen from the time of Khagemba downward. It, therefore, professes to be a work of the early 17th century. It is an anonymous work, and in this book, we see for the first time Gharib Niwaz's having had some Naga connection in his childhood." Jyotirmoy Roy, History of Manipur, 1958, p. 8.
  32. ↑ "Meitei Script and Scriptures". e-pao.net. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  33. ↑ Laishram, Sadhana. "Conservation and preservation of Manuscripts in Manipur" (PDF).
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